Environmental Sustainability Action Plan 2025/26

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Latest Update

The Environmental Sustainability Action Plan 2025/26 was approved at the Sustainability Steering Group (SSG) meeting in May 2025.

RAG Key

On track

In progress but some delays

Not started or major delays

Sustainability and Climate Leadership

Measure and track greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, set reduction targets and implement reduction actions and activities.

Objectives and actions
Objective	Action / target	Performance measure	Initiated and owned by	Deadline	Status
Develop and Implement a Sustainability and Climate Strategy, targets and action plan.	Develop High-Level Sustainability and Climate Strategy Document and Phase One Action Plan 2025-2030. To include lighter detail/outlook to Phase Two 2035 and broader outline for Phase Three 2035-2050.	Strategy Document	Sustainability and CSR / Estate Services	End July 2026	On Track
	Develop content and actions in relation to education for sustainable development, sustainability in research outcomes and impact, sustainability outreach and partnerships.	Strategy Document	Sustainability and CSR	End July 2026	On Track
	Consultation with staff and students to develop Strategy Document and Phase One Action Plan 2025-2030.	Consultation plan and findings report	Sustainability and CSR	End July 2026	On Track
	Determine formal interim net zero carbon reduction targets, action plan and investment costs for Ulster University across Scopes 1, 2 and 3 emissions to run co-terminously for 2030, 2040 and 2050 with net zero achieved on or before 2050.	Net Zero Targets and Action Plan	Sustainability and CSR / Estate Services /Procurement Dept	End July 2026	On Track
	Develop a Risk Assessment for Climate Change Adaptation and Action Plan for each campus.	Campus Risk Assessment and Action Plan	Sustainability and CSR / Estate Services	End July 2026	On Track
	Develop a methodology and procedure for carbon emission reporting in line with Higher Education sector approach for extracting, preparing and validating data for sustainability reporting including a focus on purchased goods and services including capital goods.	Procedure and methodology	Sustainability and CSR / Estate Services / Procurement Dept	End July 2026	On Track
	Develop a methodology and procedure for carbon emission reporting in line with Higher Education sector approach for extracting, preparing and validating data for sustainability reporting including a focus on purchased goods and services including capital goods.	Up-to-date Carbon Account	Sustainability and CSR / Estate Services / Procurement Dept	End July 2026	On Track
	Establish 3rd Party conduct a annual independent verification of carbon account.	Annual verification report	Sustainability and CSR / Estate Services / Procurement Dept	End July 2026	On Track

Reporting, Compliance and Performance

Report publicly on environmental sustainability performance and demonstrate compliance and performance via international, national, regional and HE sector submissions, accreditations & certifications.

Objectives and actions
Objective	Action / target	Performance measure	Initiated and owned by	Deadline	RAG Status
Report publicly on performance Meet compliance obligations Maintain external verification and benchmarking	Publish an Annual Sustainability Report on website.	Annual Report	Sustainability and CSR	Annually	On Track
	Fulfil climate change reporting obligations set by The Climate Change (Reporting Bodies) Regulations (NI) 2024.	DAERA Public Bodies Reporting Submission	Sustainability and CSR and Estates Services	Annually	On Track
	Complete a HESA Annual return.	HESA Submission	Estates Services / Sustainability and CSR	Annually	On Track
	Complete the EAUC Sustainability Leadership Scorecard.	SLS Submission	Sustainability and CSR	Annually	On Track
	Complete an annual SDG Accord report.	SDG Accord Report	Sustainability and CSR	Annually	On Track
	Return a submission to the BITC NI Benchmarking Survey.	BITC Submission	Sustainability and CSR	Annually	On Track
	Return a submission to the THE Impact Rankings.	THE Impact Ranking	Sustainability and CSR	Annually	On Track
	Return a submission to the QS Sustainability Ranking.	QS Sustainability Ranking	Sustainability and CSR	Annually	On Track
	Return a submission to the People and Planet University League.	QS Sustainability Ranking	Sustainability and CSR	Annually	On Track
	Maintain ISO 14001 joint certification for Estates and Procurement.	ISO14001 Certification	Estates Services and Procurement	Annual Certification	On Track
	Maintain Responsible Futures Accreditation.	Responsible Futures Accreditation	Sustainability and CSR and Learning Enhancement	Annual Certification	On Track
	Pilot and seek Laboratory Efficiency Assessment Accreditation.	LEAF Accreditation	Sustainability and CSR and Faculties	Annual Accreditation	On Track
	Pilot and seek GreenDiSC Accreditation.	GreenDiSC Accreditation	Sustainability and CSR, Faculties and Digital Services	Annual Accreditation	On Track
	Pilot and seek BiTC CORE Framework Accreditation.	CORE Framework Accreditation	Sustainability and CSR	Annual Accreditation	On Track

Energy

Continually improve energy performance by reducing energy consumption, increasing energy efficiency in buildings and equipment and minimising carbon emissions by using low and zero carbon technologies wherever possible.

Objectives and actions
Objective	Action / target	Performance measure	Initiated and owned by	Deadline	RAG Status
Identify opportunities for Energy Efficiency	Target an annual energy reduction of 2.5% (kWh/m2) from AY2023/24 to the end of AY 2025/26	EM&T Reports	Estates Services	End July 2026	On Track
	Ensure key new build projects include systems and metering that complies with existing energy management and tracking system.	Systems and Meters	Estates Services	End July 2026	On Track
	Identify third party energy auditors to conduct building audits at to identify energy saving projects.	Energy audit reports	Estates Services	End July 2026	On Track
	Implement new Metering and Targeting System to optimise carbon and energy data, identify opportunities for energy and cost saving.	M&T System	Estates Services	End July 2026	On Track
	Implement on-campus solar generation projects.	M&T System	Estates Services	End July 2026	On Track

Water

Use water efficiently and identify waste-avoidance opportunities.

Objectives and actions
Objective	Action / target	Performance measure	Initiated and owned by	Deadline	RAG Statu
Use water efficiently	Develop business case for installation of water meters linked to BMS to track and report water consumption	Water Monitoring and Reporting	Estates Services	End July 2026	On Track
Use water efficiently	Meet abstraction licence requirements for borewell (as per licence).	Water Abstraction Readings	Estates Services	End July 2026	On Track

Construction and Refurbishment

Sustainable design, construction and refurbishment.

Objectives and actions
Objective	Action / target	Performance measure	Initiated and owned by	Deadline	RAG Status
Develop campuses sustainably	Implement Sustainable Construction and Retrofit Procedure.	Project Briefs & Reports	Estates Services	End July 2026	On Track

Waste

Reduce volume of waste generated.

Objectives and actions
Objective	Action / target	Performance measure	Initiated and owned by	Deadline	RAG Status
Reduce total waste generated	Maintain total routine and commercial waste generated below 400 tonnes.	Waste Monitoring and Reporting	All Departments and Commercial Tenants	End July 2026	On Track
	Develop a Sustainable Events Guide with Provost Portfolio - Campus Life and Marketing and Communications.	Guide	Estates Services, Campus Life and Marketing and Communications	End July 2026	On Track
	Investigate opening the Warpit reuse portal to third parties.	Warpit	Estates Services	End July 2026	On Track

Transport

Reduce single occupancy car travel by staff and students and reduce the environmental impact arising from commuter and business travel.

Objectives and actions
Objective	Action / target	Performance measure	Initiated and owned by	Deadline	RAG Status
Increase travel to campus via low carbon means - public transport, car-sharing and active travel	Develop and implement consolidated travel plan	Consolidated Travel Plan	Estates Services	End July 2026	On Track
	Sustainable Travel for Business Review Group to propose new sustainable travel policy and principles for reducing business travel and associated carbon emissions	Sustainable Travel Policy and Business Travel Principles	Sustainable Travel for Business Review Group	End July 2026	On Track

Biodiversity

Maintain green spaces to enhance biodiversity and community wellbeing.

Objectives and actions
Objective	Action / target	Performance measure	Initiated and owned by	Deadline	RAG Status
Increase awareness of biodiversity among staff and students	Expand Natural Capital Assessment pilot to include Derry~Londonderry and Jordanstown campuses.	Natural Capital Assessment	Estates Services	End July 2026	On Track